U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell Tours Porifera on National Manufacturing Day

HAYWARD, Calif., Oct. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Porifera, Inc. a Bay Area startup focused on developing advanced systems for water treatment was honored with a visit from Congressman Eric Swalwell, in celebration of National Manufacturing Day.

Swalwell was greeted by CEO Olgica Bakajin, Vice President Jeffrey Mendelssohn, and Director of New Applications Jennifer Klare. He was given a tour of Porifera's administrative offices, laboratory, and manufacturing facilities, where he greeted employees and watched Porifera's manufacture of its novel PFO membrane elements that will be shipped to customers for wastewater treatment.

Swalwell was then invited to taste-test pomegranate juice concentrate. This concentrate was cold-concentrated using Porifera's technology that preserves flavors. The group discussed the potential of cold concentration for a variety of food and beverage applications, for juices and other types of beverages.  After the taste test, Swalwell sought feedback from Porifera regarding different ways federal government can be of better assistance to help small business growth and development. "Thank you for what you are doing to help solve our water problems," Swalwell told the team.

Swalwell was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2012. He represents California's 15^th congressional district, an area that covers much of the East Bay and includes Hayward, where Porifera is based.

About Porifera
Porifera is a San Francisco Bay Area startup, based in Hayward, California. Porifera has pioneered development of forward osmosis membranes and systems for water treatment and food and beverage concentration. Porifera has successfully executed projects for the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation, and NASA to demonstrate, design water treatment systems that are low-fouling and energy efficient. These systems are now being built and sold to customers worldwide.

Porifera Contact
Jeffrey Mendelssohn, Vice President
[email protected]
510-999-5189

SOURCE Porifera, Inc.